@@gonzo7727 are you being sarcastic....? Scientologist tom cruise, a good person...? His characters he primarily plays are directly contrary to your statement ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Tom Cruise’s most under appreciated performance. Dude was scary, calm, charming and cold hearted. At the end of the day, he was a guy doing his job by any means..
In case people wonder about how Vincent lost the shootout: Vincent underestimated Max. He went for the mozambique drill (one in the head, two in the chest). You can see the bullet pattern in the door after the lights go back on. The thing is though, Vincent thought less of Max for spending his whole life planning things, being in a routine, and not being able to improvse, yet Vincent dies because of his routine and planned shooting pattern. Vincent breaks Max out of his routine and teaches him to improvise and adapt to the situations throughout the night, and thats how Max ends up winning, taking a chance, improvising, and shooting wildly though the glass. Thematically, and weirdly enough, Vincent actually saves Max's life by teaching him to take more risks like himself, and ends his own life by falling back on a routine, like Max! There is also the fact that not only did Vincent forshadow his ending with the story about the dead man riding the subway, but Max forshadowed his ending in the beginning as well! He said it twice, actually! Once to Annie, and then to Vincent! How did he make it to each destination on the minute? "I got lucky with the lights!" Strangely enough, not only does Collateral end at the same train station the Heat begins at, but Collateral starts where Heat ends: at the airport. Plus, how did Hanna win the shoutout at the end of Heat? He got lucky with the lights! Hanna wins with the light turning on, while Max wins with the lights turning off!
It’s a simple story on the first degree of lecture. Otherwise I love how some people made me saw storytelling where I didn’t. At first I thought it was a movie about masculinity. How does it look like when unleashed and repressed masculinity collides and how at the end it converge in Max to convey a much equilibrated vision of it. But other saw in it a movie about nihilism, a movie about the void left when love is absent. At the end of the day it could be all of these things but one thing is sure is that it’s a dense movie rather than a simple story
They both did a great job with this one, I remember before I saw this thinking of Jamie Fox in just In living color terms. But I felt this broke him out, or should have, Jamie Fox has some real star power that gets some spit shine in this film for me.
@@pancakemogul yeah but whenever we talk about Michael Mann movies Collateral is never brought up in the discussion, it is always Heat and it's not even brought up when we talk about Tom Cruise's best performances. It feels like many have forgotten about this movie throughout the years and only a select few still remember it and appreciate it.
@@Comicbroe405 Umm, I...guess not? For a 2004 movie, it's less popular than Kill Bill 2, Anchorman and Shawn of the Dead, sure, but I'm guessing above or on par with big ones like Troy, Ray and Million Dollar Baby these days. Even if most people just mention how TC's hip shot is used in tactical handgun training.
You're reminded that Tom Cruise can actually act in this film... A damn near perfect performance. Jamie Foxx got all the praise from the critics, but it was Tom that held our attention.
It’s because Jamie Foxx’s performance was more surprisingly great, Tom Cruise has been pretty consistently good at acting so it didn’t stand out as much to the critics.
There's more to Vincent than just a manipulative psychopath. In fact, what makes him both scary and grounded is that he's NOT a psychopath. Multiple times in the movie he shows a genuine attachment to Max and pushes him to better his life. He hides behind his job as a reason. He'll say he's just doing what's necessary to make the night and his job go smoothly but I think to Vincent, Max represents a side of humanity that he rarely lets himself see. In the end, Max got the better of him and I don't mean killing him in the final shootout. His time with Max challenged his world view and forced him to self reflect. That's what makes this movie brilliant. It's an intimate character study of two people who make each other question the preconceived ideas they both have about the world and their lives.
I mean, purely from a "realistic" point of view, Vincent is definitely a psychopath. It's a common psychopathic behavior to exhibit attachment and affection, to create emotional bonds with people. But this is an exploitation technique. As with the jazz player character, those bonds don't actually equate to real emotional attachment the way they do with normal people. Vincent's MO was to build the bond with his driver to learn their vulnerabilities, and keep him off kilter until Vincent got what he needed. Max was never going to survive the night, no matter how much Vincent suggested he cared. He probably said similar stuff to the last cabbie, before killing him at the end of the night, because after all, the cabbie saw his face. It was nothing personal, he'd say. All that encouragement was to create the illusion that the cabbie would survive, so he wouldn't try to run, or make Vincent's job harder. He may have even meant what he said in the moment. But psychopaths always seem to mean what they say. That's why they can beat lie detector tests. Max was a convenient canvas on which Vincent could project his own ideas of human failing. He never actually saw another human being there, because psychopaths are incapable of seeing other human beings. Beyond the layer of realism, I think another layer of the film is the conflict between Max's self-delusion and Vincent's opposing self-delusion. Vincent was able to open Max's mind by disillusioning him about his emotional paralysis, forcing him to turn "someday" into "now." Max was never going to have a do or die moment on his own. We sometimes need a crisis to shake us out of apathy. But I think the reason that Max got the better of Vincent was because Vincent was incapable of changing his world-view, and so he couldn't see how he'd changed Max's. It never occurred to him that an actual person was listening to his rhetoric, and was capable of being changed by it, because he only saw people as these machines going through their programming, incapable of transcending who they were. Because he wasn't capable of that. On the realism layer, he wasn't capable because he was a psychopath. On the meaning layer, it was because the very philosophy he lived by was a locked room with no way out. While Max's philosophy allowed room for an update. In short, Vincent's rigid pragmatism led to resignation, while Max's foolish romanticism allowed room for hope.
I'd argue that he is a textbook psychopath, like clinically speaking he's batting 1.000 to be diagnosed as suffering from psychopathy. Perhaps you mean it in more of a colloquial sense like he isn't insane and isn't in full possession of his faculties, then that I would agree with.
@@cthomas025 there's no such thing as a textbook definition of a psychopath. it's not actually even a real diagnosis and has no real definition that anyone can agree on. I just used it to get my point across
Dude had the most epic death scene. He knew he was shot, he curses and then he casually sits down on the Subway bench. Delivers his last line, and his head dips as he dies. I never get over how he knows he's dead, doesn't express pain, but expresses animosity for understanding its a mortal wound. Then just casually sits down lol.
I always hoped we'd see Vincent jumping off the train in the final shot, tricking Max and getting away, much like Chris Shiherlis in Michael Mann's other film Heat. I legit wanted confirmation that he survived solely because he was so frightening to watch. I just wanted more.
If his death was overly theatrical, it would be totally out of character. His death scene was perfect and perfectly incorporates his foreshadowing first ride discussions with Max. Vincent was a matter-of-fact kind of guy, he ran the numbers after he got mortally clipped by Max and knew he was done for. He quietly accepts his death, with his last MESSAGE still trying to one up Max and prove him wrong xD Vincent's checkout was one you would expect from a stoic nihilist, whose one satisfaction and indulgence in life was being good at what he does. The op suggests Vincent was evil - i would disagree and say he was just maladjusted. Some tweaking and he would be a modern day CEO lol Either way, brilliant acting turn by Cruise. Given his clear talent at harnessing & portraying the darker sides of humanity, it's remarkable he doesn't take more roles as interesting, ambiguous characters. He's been playing the cookie-cutter buttermilk good-guy characters for 4 decades - doesnt he get bored of that? lol
Absolutely insane performance by Tom Cruise, I was shocked at how realistic Vincent was. It made me re-evaluate him as an actor completely. He needs to play more villains.
Vincent reminded me of the Ice Man, a mafia free contract hit man. There are a couple interviews, and a book on him. There was one killing in particular that reminded me of Vincent. Dude had to kill someone relatively close to the Ice Man personally. Dude fucked up, got a call to be killed, he shows up Dude knows why IM is there. Starts praying, Ice Man straight up stops. Tells him, "God's got an hour to save you, get to praying. If God comes down within an hour and preforms a miracle to get you outa here I'll never hunt you down." When asked what happened by the interviewer, IM responded with, "God didn't show up that day."
@@CSestp He looks more like a living corpse. He is already dead and realizes that his life alone has come to an end. He even has such an image - Pale like a corpse. There is a feeling that after a certain number of tasks he would shoot himself even if he survived at the end of the film.
@@CSestp that is an incredible line, right up there with many great cinematic moments. The fact that it was actually uttered in reality just gives it so much more weight! I'd watch the crap out of a movie adaptation of that interview/hit.
My own take: I think what makes Vincent so terrifying is how normal he can seem sometimes. He isnt some sociopathic alien that is unable to relate to humanity. On the contrary Vincent does have empathy (coyote scene, shoots trumpet). He has charisma. He understands social structures and how to bypass them without being seen. I think he understands humanity too well. Hes just disappointed in the result. Thats why he derides them. Hes a total misanthrope. So he can laugh and have fun, manipulate, work societys hierarchies like a videogame. He literally sees nothing wrong with killing. Hes much more powerful than a sociopathic hermit because he understands humanity too well and is deflated by how weak and meaningless it can be.
An ex special operations soldier or intelligence officer, someone who has seen so much of the worst of humanity, including the horrific results of the things the 'good guys" do and he's lost all faith with mankind. He does what he does with no malice, but because his soul was broken so all he has left is "the job", and everything he's seen in his life, especially the work he formerly did for whatever government employed him, convinced him that this, that murder and brutality is the only way anything good or bad ever really gets done in this world.
I like to describe Vincent as someone who isn't a sociopath, but really wants to be one. He wants to feel nothing and care about no one, because then it'd be easier to handle being as alone as he is.
@@mst3KGf I don't think Vincent cares that he is alone, I believe he prefers it to the company of the majority of people. I also don't think he's into labels, he simply is, what life has made him. He does what he does, without malice, guilt or afterthought and just moves on.
Terrifying, yes, but he's also one of the saddest villains I've ever seen. A deeply lonely man who is incapable of making any kind of real human connection. Sure, he keeps Max around to eventually be a patsy to pin the killings on, but you also get the feeling Max is the first person he's actually had some kind of connection with in a long time and he's prolonging the inevitable as long as he can. And that ending where he asks if anyone will notice him dead on the train is one of the most depressing "last words" moments ever. Plus there's the implications of his horrifically abusive childhood.
Narcs will fuck w you til their dying breath. You're showing empathy for someone who didn't have any. It'd be like petting that coyote walking the street
@@penny8579 i didn't care.. and so tom's character was right.. we act so righteous but in the end... woudl you notice the dead body on the train? apathy. kinda the movie shows.. its just another collateral damage.. you get use to it.. you become apathetic. cruise was right.
Doubt he was lonely in the sense of an inability to have people around him who want to be around him as he demonstrated an ability to charm people at will.
Vincent changed the whole Max's life in few hours. He showed him that he was living a pathetic, meaningless life in apathy, waiting for a miracle to happen. Vincent is trying to show him that perpetual dreaming for some goals in life leads to waste and that you need to grab every chance that life gives you. Vincent, while doing horrible things through the night, sends a brilliant message.
I know what you mean but I would say no he's not - he's simply being a psychopath. Max is simply real and wise and brave enough to find the stones to save his own life. The honest confrontation with evil is what generates the transformation. If evil is done specifically to raise consciousness its not really evil. Psychopaths often intellectually grasp much of this and they often like to sell themselves as the true visionaries doing the real good, unlike the weak do-gooders.
@@rumination2399To be fair, sometimes some psychopaths are necessary evils and must change the staus quo in order for society to grow. Also being good isn't enough, one must have conviction to survive nowadays.
Its a classic hero's journey. In the beginning of the movie, Max was basically living an infantile existence and just playing pretend with his big plans but never taking action. Meeting Vincent meant that Max encountered Evil (capital E) which forced him to confront his own shadow to summon the courage and quick thinking to get through the night (literally and figuratively). So many brilliant motifs folded into this masterpiece.
Tom Cruise never gets the recognition he deserves because of the characters he chooses to play, but he’s honestly one of the best actors of his generation. He’s proven he can do it all, even if it’s only once. Collateral is proof of his ability to be in control at all times and hold us in suspense. It’s a fantastic piece of work.
@@keventy6114 I think his religion is why he doesn't get nominated for Oscars, or why he doesn't win them. I'm not a fan of his religion or cult if anyone prefers, but he is arguably the best actor today who hasn't won an Oscar. Actors should be judged on their performance, not on what they believe outside of the industry. IMHO.
@@floydcoppage1499 I agree, if it was any other actor with his body of work, they would probably have two or three Oscars by now. At this point, if he gets a "lifetime achievement award" I would consider it a slap in the face. Eyes wide shut. A few good men. Far and Away. Jerry McGuire. Valkyrie. The Last Samurai. The Firm. Collateral. the mission impossible movies and the list goes on and on. It just goes to show you how political the academy actually is.
Cruise is a great actor - and he hasn't insanely slapped anyone in a fit of "pseudo anger" in front of millions. And while Cruise is caught in a deplorable cult, so are millions upon millions of fact-denying Fox News brainwashed Trump voters - which is far scarier.
You can always tell it's a Michael Mann movie by hearing the gunshots... He's got an incredible ability to convey the realism of the sound through the full echoing you don't get in other movies. He did the same thing in Heat... Easily one of the best shootouts in film history.
Don't forget about The Last of the Mohicans. Every cannon and musket fire sends chills down your spine. And it's also historically accurate because it has that loud "click" that's heard before a black powder musket shoots.
"Yo, homie. Is that my briefcase?" The way he realistically and effortlessly turns the tables of the situation by going from the victim to the executioner is remarkable.
The fact that people are passionately discussing their different interpretations of Vincent’s character shows just how incredibly well written and acted he was.
We saw this trend in the early 2000's with Denzel in Training Day, Tom Cruise in Collateral, and Tom Hanks in Road to Perdition. We're so used to their good boy roles, it's exciting to see these actors switch it up.
_What Lies Beneath_ succeeded in keeping you wondering until the end almost entirely because of the assumption that Harrison Ford is always the good guy.
I think Tom took the part just to show that he could be the non-hero in a movie role and once he's displayed it like no other, he never went back. It was a unique and refreshing experience for him that it showed how good of an actor he truly is.
Cruise played an excellent psychologically realistic and deep asshole in Magnolia - very convincingly - several years before The Collateral. Actually it was one of his best performances and he was so good in that role, that I was left thinking there was A LOT of his true self in it.
@@Rallzy yeah bc obviously he's never had a history of drug abuse, never had a history of anxiety, and he toooootally wasn't goofing off behind the scenes during his joker role. Do me a favor and stop taking movies "...so serious"
@@zakariamore1575 Levels above? No, they were both equally great. Anton is scarier in a way, sure. But Vincent is realistic and Collateral could really happen. Both did amazing and (no pun intended!) killed their respective roles. With Tom Cruise, you expect that. With Javier Bardem, he is not as well known as Cruise of course, but no one could have portrayed Anton like he did!
John Wick is more "comic book" style of a movie/hitman. Vincent has a more believable atmosphere and his character more philosophical than simply his dog being killed.
Funny enough, in Payday 2 there’s a pair of glasses that are called “Collateral” I think. It references the movie and that John Wick was actually set out to kill Vincent but someone beat him to the punch. Despite canon issues with John Wick in Payday 2, I’d say it’s totally possible that Vincent was part of that world and Transporter as mentioned before. I believe the Transporter one was actually confirmed.
This movie is one of my all time favourites, Tom cruise played the role so well and gave a reason for all his actions. Love when he told Max "You can't even take the girl out, you sit there saying one day my time will come, one day my time will come". He's the villain but definitely says it the way it is.
exactly, sometimes few years passes in life without any changing or having real new knowledge about things, but one encounter with someone or a stranger and one conversation could add up a lot of realisation, that makes you look and wonder how long have you been going this road and maybe let you do some immediate decisions, like he could or wanted to call her right now, why the wait.. life is short, opportunities doesn't last.
@@frankgesuele6298 if I remember correctly, Hollywood tried to shut him down…..until they were reminded how much of their money came from him. Yes they’re that dumb
I hate how the critics mostly focused on Jamie Foxx character sure he's good and all,but so was Tom Cruise and this was his second villain role and it was amazing for him to play as the bad guy.
FINALLY SOMEBODY TALKED ABOUT VINCENT. I was a kid when I saw this movie and I was completely enthralled by the character. It actually made me think. The character deserved more iswtg. It was a magnificent performance. Collateral was criminally underrated.
What gets overlooked is that Cruise is as much a capable actor as he is a megastar. This role, and that disturbed, maladjusted self help guy in Magnolia are testimony to his range in playing dark roles.
Tom Cruise is unbelievably talented, don't care what anyone says, and he constantly strives to impress his audiences, we pay these stars millions of dollars, he shows up everytime
There are enough movies out there where you can see Cruise's range as an actor. I love his Ethan Hunt and Lestat. If you give him enough room to be "morally grey" in a character he can send chills up your spine. He's even pretty good in a romantic drama. Probably hands down the best actor Hollywood has ever seen.
Cruise and Will Smith. I know I know the slap blah blah blah, but Smith will bounce back. He just like cruise got the charm, the talent, the wide range/variation and pure raw star power.
Collateral is my favorite Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx movie. The L.A. New Noir atmosphere and world along with the two stars make this movie an instant cult classic for me.
I believe the scene with the coyotes wasn't necessarily about him seeing himself as a predator. What I noticed was him noticing Max's humanity in respecting other living creatures. The way he unexpectedly slowed down to them pass and not take his own right of way while driving. Something Vincent wasn't expecting to see from max. Maybe, as the video states, Vincent had grown cold and distant to his own sense of humanity and didn't expect that from another human.
"The way he unexpectedly slowed down to them pass and not take his own right of way while driving." ... I would expect it, but not for the reason you express here. People are conditioned to stop at red-lights or stop signs when no car is even there or wash their hands like their dick is toxic waste, humans commonly do all sorts of things for no reason. Different societies have different conditioning, thus different norms. It's not respect for life that stops a person from running over animals, it's needless and there is no gain from doing so, right? I've killed lots of animals cause I like eating them, that is the gain.
I interpreted the coyote scene as a metaphor for what vincent was talking about earlier, "Adapt, Darwin, I Ching. Whatever Man, We Gotta Roll With It" the coyotes had to adapt to living in the metro LA area to survive; as did vincent and max had to adapt that evening to survive, if vincent didn't complete his work, it meant both their asses- and seeing the coyotes was perfection punctuation for that and they both had that moment mentally at the same time. I always like to hear other folks interps on this scene, and I like yours, I think it's the best scene in the movie, with such a powerful choice of score with the audioslave track
Respectfully, I disagree. Here’s how I saw that scene: Max stops to let the coyotes cross. The two men watch the animals as they slink through the city. Yeah, they’re predators. But they’re notoriously cowardly. They go after prey that’s ideally weaker than themselves. They’re ambush hunters too. There’s nothing really noble about how the coyote hunts and kills. I think there’s two concepts present in that scene. One, Vincent has disdain for the city because it’s full of people. In his mind, worthless, filthy, pointless hordes of people. He likes to think of his forays into these places as an apex predator, hunting the sheep. But the second concept is that he sees the coyotes and realizes that’s what he really is. An ambush hunter, doing the dirty work, killing the unsuspecting prey, at the behest of the more powerful truly apex predators. A coyote. Max sees the animals and can appreciate that nature finds a way to adapt to the environment - even one that humans have created and paved over. But also, Max sees Vincent as a coyote. Dangerous, but also fearful. Capable of deadly violence, but also wanting to avoid direct confrontation. A determined human can run off a coyote with a display of aggression, especially if they’re not in a pack. And Vincent definitely has no pack. He’s just a lone coyote, trying to convince you he’s a Lion. And in the end, it’s with an act of aggression that Max defeats Vincent.
Collateral is my favorite movie off all time. it was just so influential on me growing up, this movie showed me what movies as a medium can be, not only visually but also in storytelling. and Vincent is a once in a lifetime type performance, Cruise should've gotten an oscar for this
The scene with the wolf to the background music of Audioslave is probably the most hauntingly perfect cinematic moment I've ever seen in my life. I saw the movie two days ago for the first time and I can't get that scene or song out of my head. Mesmerizing.
You've been covering some great characters lately and I'm here for it. First Alonzo Harris, then Calvin Candie, and Now Vincent from Collateral in Tom Cruise's best performance of his career. He's the type of villain that's more of an antagonist than a flat out bad guy, yet his actions are callous and cold but his motivations make complete sense, and he's he true catalyst for Max's arc in the film. One of Michael Mann's best films.
um… vincent is definitely a bad guy, and his motivations dont make complete sense, his character is just such a good manipulator that he even convinced you.
@@Bodyknock not a random internet guy o heaven's no, I'll say it in ur face, just as nicely too 🤷..the movie underated for sure, but I'll watch edge of tomorrow before that any day of the week, and that movie still not my top 5 🤷.
i think one overlooked moment in the video is the expression in Vincent's face when the hold the jazz player's head so it doesn't hit the table after being shoot. With one look, one expression, Cruise shows all the conflict feelings in Vincent for killing someone he became a fan of in one night. His love for jazz is real, as shown in the knowledge he has of Miles Davies. His admiration of the player is also real. So is his commitment to his work. Easily one of Cruise's greatest performances
A side note about the production, this was one of the first major films shot with a *digital* camera - which allowed night shoots without the need for lights to be set up. That allowed a lot of freedom and the dark grittiness of the visuals, instead of having everything lit up. It also meant they could check on the footage straight away. Keanu did a interesting documentary series on filmmaking (the Side by Side series, not sure which one, but maybe the first?) which looked at the rise of digital filming, and mentions this. He got a lot of access to various people in the industry because, well.... he's Keanu.
wow...i was wondering how this looked so much like a john wick predecessor, toned down with more realism...the club scenes and all.....vincent is a cooler john wick for me...
@@vza7938Agreed! I watched Collateral as a kid & loved it plus Vincent is more realistic due to not being as over the top compared to characters like John Wick yet still an absolute trained killer!
@@brandonsalisbury7182 man how did u love it as a kid? Maybe u were intelligent enough to appreciat that its not just an action flick..i think the actions were there just to convey that vincent was about what he spoke of
As I’ve always thought that this was one of Cruise’s best performances. It’s so ironic cause when we as an audience think about someone playing the role of a cold blooded killer Tom Cruise is easily one of the last people we would ever consider for that part. Most of his career he’s been the charismatic, good natured hero so to see him, not only in a completely opposite role, but to also play it incredibly well is really a testament to how good of an actor Tom Cruise is. I really wish he would play this type of role one more time before he retires cause he was just so good at it.
The aspect of this movie that I love so much is Vincent's unquestionable refusal to fail. Blunder after blunder (1st dead guy falls out a window, losing all info in his briefcase, having to meet Max's mom, the debacle at the Asian night club, cops pulling Max over for the damaged windshield, dealing with the cab dispatcher, killing the thugs who tried to steal his briefcase, etc.)....he _refuses_ to stop. He will re-think, manipulate, coerce, threaten, conceal, over-ride or demand action to complete his task. And all the while....being in control. I never appreciated Tom Cruise's work until that movie, then I changed my mind.
A cool detail in the final shootout is often missed. Vincent frequently uses what is called a "Mozambique" or "failure to stop" technique in his shooting. Two rounds in the chest, one in the head. This precision is shown through the movie, like in the alley way with the two thugs. At the end, because Vincent is reliant on his muscle memory for this perfect shooting technique, notice that his three rounds strike the train door. Meanwhile, Max is spraying wildly and ends up landing a shot. It was Vincent's strict adherence to his training that ended up killing him.
We call it a failure drill in the marine s. Two chest one sight picture one sight alignment and then one tbox between the eyes severes the brain stem instant death cut move a muscle
I wouldnt say Max is spraying Wildly - he takes a shot and shuffles side to side kinda, so one bullet is able to go through the train car door windows. He improvises, adapts, E-Ching, overcome. It's not by the book like Vincent who does the reflexive technique
@@Defender78 He got lucky but that's all it takes. 19 out of 20 times, he would of died but Vincent has been doing this for so long, that he got his 1 in 20 roll of bad luck. Good ending.
He truly is, but imo it's unfortunate he'd rather jump off jets or mountains and be a movie star/stunt man then a great actor. I wish his career was more like Leo's because he's truly great.
Tom Cruise’s scientology and the whole Oprah couch thing make him criminally underrated - this man is an all time amazing actor and does not get the credit he deserves.
The couch jump was athletic. He effortlessly rose off the floor onto cushions. A bit of his stunt abilities. Audience was crazy for it; Oprah later said in an interview with Tom that it was fun and it was. As for Scientology, could be it has something to do with Tom's abilities. We never hear of him needing rehab.
People dismiss him because of that. But any really talented actor or artist or even director will always kind of be "out there" and cruise is no exception.
He is very talented, but I don't know that I would say that he is "underrated" as an actor. I think most people realize his talent, but can't get past his personal goofiness. My issue with Cruz is that he tends to play the same rolls over and over. Guy with a lot of potential meets tragedy that makes him rethink his life. In the end comes back stronger than ever. It is Risky Business. It is Days of Thunder. It is Top Gun 1 and 2. It is most of his movies. Its like watching WWE. You know exactly how most movies will turn out.
Tom Cruise is the last real movie star IMO. He's been vindicated in multiple ways lately. I have no issue with seeing TC as a villian. He's a good actor.
I always felt that Tom Crusie deserved an oscar for the role. he played vincent to such perfection that it leaves the audience wanting to like him and even forgive him if he had some back story but as it turns out, he is just an evil guy.
Other incredible performances from Tom Cruise are in The Last Samurai, A Few Good Men, Born on The Fourth of July, Tropic Thunder, Jack Reacher, Oblivion, War of The Worlds, Vanilla Sky, and Minority Report. He's a brilliant actor.
It helps add weight to a darker character when he usually doesn't play that type. It's a shock and makes it more powerful and affecting when he does change it up. Lestat was also a hugely effective role for the same reason.
This is such an underrated movie! Good story, Good acting, Filming is amazing. One of the rare films where all the stars align and create such an intense feeling and connection to the film. Love it!
In the last 15 years, Tom Cruise has done a great job at making most people forget he can seriously act, the way he can stand out among stacked casts is crazy- in this and magnolia in particular
I love Collateral. It is so elegant and professional amidst it's simple premise. It features fantastic actors doing parts they are not known for and cranking their abilities to 11. And Los Angeles at night, a character all it's own, beautifully framed in a way that has you tasting the humidity in the air and smelling the dinginess that is not often portrayed in film. And, then there is Vincent. One of the best written characters in the new millennium. Portrayed by Tom Cruise, a man who has made his career off of the righteous man and heartthrob suddenly becoming the darkest form of predator while seamlessly blending into the grey landscape that L.A. has to offer. He is *not* a monster......he is a professional. But what makes him so damn despicable is how he drags Max, an innocent man, through the mud kicking and screaming the whole way. However, I do believe that both Max and Vincent, in a different time and different circumstances, could have found a way to be good friends. And that is what makes it so damn brilliant, by the final showdown, you have no idea who to root for. It's also what makes the final outcome not only righteous, but also so tragic. It is, and always will be, a captivating and enthralling performance given by Cruise. Every time I watch it, I can never look away. It only proves that Tom Cruise is one of the best actors of this generation. Vincent was lightning in a bottle. If Cruise is to ever bring such an ambiguous character to life again, it will be welcome, but tough to find.
Great movie, truly underrated. Vincent is spot on about us being less connected. Sure Social media allows for many people to see you and even to a point understand you. Yet, these connections are superfisical with no real depth. There are times in our history were gathering together for meals or being together were common place and looked forward to. Simpler life maybe, compared to the choas we are in now. Back then, you went out of your way to help a total stranger, in fact I have cousins who farm and would go check on neighbors miles away cause the hadn't heard or seen them in awhile. Learning to put people in a box of indifference makes us less comapassionate towards our fellow man/woman. I'm old school, I loved growing up having block parties, neighborhood cook outs, a bazillion kids running up and down the streets where everyone looked out for everyone. Technology is great, but it can never replace the bond of true person connections.
Yeah, I couldn't honestly agree that "the world is more connected than ever" on anything besides a blanket, obviously true statement of "yeah, we have internet now to talk to people in Japan or something". We're so, but so connected, that multiplayer games, the crowning achievement of the merge between social and interactive entertainment, is a bunch of people being silent and awkwardly avoiding each other; social media is people posting things for social points and rarely anything else to the point that some spend hours just watching random videos and clicking the like button instead of cleaning the goddamn sink already; everyone has gotten so disconnected to the human behind the computer, that it has become pitifully easy(er) to dehumanize others during political discussions and treat disagreements as personal attacks that need to be met with force. It's not to say that people aren't capable of being good or form proper relationships both online and offline, but the internet has surfaced so many problems with collective behavior that sometimes I wish we went back to sending letters to each other. I don't even know the name of anyone in my building, even if I know most of their faces; we have no reason to talk when anyone can get better distracted by the rectangular flashlight.
This is one of my favorite movie villains of all time. And the part when he says "you weren't gonna do it anyway" is perhaps the most influential bit of dialog I've got from a movie ever. Evertime I plans something and want to check if I'm actually fooling myself or if I really want to follow through with it I think of that moment and it helps me get a clear outlook on things.
I've always said this was Tom Cruise's best performance. I have been dying to have him tackle a sinister role again. Maybe he's waiting until he can't run anymore?
I never saw this movie. Ten seconds in, I stopped it, pulled it up and watched the entire two hour movie in one sitting. This is at least the third or fourth movie you've gotten me to watch because of your analysis. Thanks for broadening my mental movie library where I was dearly missing out.
more than a year later, same story - algorithm worked its charm, stopped few seconds later, watched the movie just now and went back to the video straight away just to appreciate the comments.. despite what vincent represents, i have to agree his worldview on "take every opportunity life throws at you" wholeheartedly
I saw this movie multiple times in theaters and enjoy watching it at home whenever I'm not preoccupied. It's such a good film, with everyone bringing their A Game on all fronts. Thanks for bringing light to it!
i love how every once in a while a renowned star steps out of their own limelight to conduct a completely and unexpectedly brilliant performance. that's truly remarkable talent.
I watched this movie while living in a container in Iraq in 2005, I was thoroughly impressed by both Fox's and Cruise's performances. I wish they still made movies like this.
good stuff. i’d go further to say what is scarier about vincent is that he doesn’t have “wants and desires,” which is worse than seeking only one’s wants and desires above all else. he’s absorbed the cyborg programming the extant human in him despises.
What makes Tom less palatable for most people I talk to, is exactly what makes me most happy to watch him. Like Vincent, he's razor sharp and appears un wavering or even a bit crazy... Not only do I think he's one of the best actors I've ever scene... his work is almost impeccable! I'd love to see him do at least one more like this... but I don't see it happening, at least not in this decade. :(
I wouldn't say he was pure evil; he had a very twisted code but I agree with you overall. Hollywood these days does seem to drop the ball with many villains. Kylo in the new Star Wars trilogy comes to mind.
One important difference in Vincent and the other villains stated in this video is that the others have an aspect of theatricality to them, they are somewhat over the top. Vincent feels believable enough to from the real world. Like if you just went out to a crowded enough place, you may be within his reach.
I love the final shootout. Tom, being well trained with built in muscle memory, aims for the center of the sternum, and Fox shoots sporadically, but the door was in the way. Fox got lucky. Such a great scene!
One of my favourite films from the early 2000’s, also possibly my favorite Tom Cruise performance. Rewatched it again last year and it was just as tight and gripping as when I first watched it in the theatres. The coyote shots stayed vivid with me over the years even though at the time I wasn’t sure what it was suppose to implicate but something resonated.
This is one of the most underrated action movies of all-time! Plus, its cinematography is so eyes pleasing and unique, they managed to make LA to look so beautiful; you just don’t usually find such elements in an action film.
Well I think Harrison Ford , Keanu Reeves, Daniel Day- Lewis may have to have a spot in that conversation and if you are staying contemporary and Jamie Foxx is PFG too ! :)
@@b.g.3073 I love Mr. Lewis, but the number of films he's done isn't very large. My point was more the quantity and quality of films. There are certainly better actors than Tom.
@@dr.emilschaffhausen4683 Yes Mr.Lewis does not have a large base of block buster films but l feel he is certainly the best actor of this group.I think we forgot Russell Crowe.
When I saw that first kill and that "bullets and the fall" line in a preview trailer, I knew I was going to go see this movie, and I was going to love it. And I did. I bought the DVD too, on the day it dropped and nearly wore it out. I have watched this movie more than 100 times. One of my all-time favorites.
For me the most chilling moment is in the Jazz Bar, when Vincent is arguing with Max, he never takes his eyes of the target. He is so coldly focused on taking out his target and Max in that moment is so unimportant that he doesn't even spare Max a glance. Like many, I think this is one of Cruise's best performances, but a lot of that comes from the character having depth and nuance. I seem to remember reading that Cruise enjoyed the role because it wasn't just a cookie-cutter villain and I suspect he has set a very high standard of villain he would be willing to take on. I also remember reading he genuinely enjoys the Mission Impossible films. Collateral is such an under appreciated film and is definitely one of my favourites.
My favorite thing about Cruise's performance in Collateral was how he blended in desperation with the stern horror of the character. Vincent and Max are on opposite ends of the spectrum, but they both have a common yearning for connection and an unwillingness to achieve it for darker personal reasons than they let on. The end chase when Cruise nearly faceplants after trying to jump the chair is a great example of his execution. Accident or not, the fact that he KNOWS he has to catch Max wouldn't have been communicated nearly as well if Cruise had played the character and stunt work perfectly cold. It's just a small touch of many that add up to arguably one of Cruise AND Foxx's most nuanced performances. Like for as much praise as Cruise gets, you BELIEVE Foxx is a cab driver from the second the movie starts. He not only sold the role, but he sold his performance as the perfect vehicle for Cruise's. They made such an incredible duo and I honestly wish they would act in more things together.
They’re likely never working together again. Foxx dated Katie Holmes after she divorced Cruise. That would be pretty awkward on set and the media would absolutely harp on that fact during promotion for the movie.
I thought this was one of Jamie's better roles as well. He usually played the jock and like Quentin described him; wanted to be star, but when adapts to the role he pulls off the acting VERY well.
it was funny when Quentin confronted him on the first day shooting Django when he saw him showing up on the set with his fancy clothes and entourage, and just shouted at him WTF are you doing you're a F*king slave
@@andrewforte3852 Ray was meh, I thought. I don't know why, but I thought like it was "his" version of Ray and they really share some personality traits that made it "easier" to channel Ray. Example of this is his acting in Any Given Sunday. Just didn't feel genuine, in my opinion. However I forgive him for trying to shine a better light on a talented and yet flawed individual. It would be hard to pull of a role as Bill Cosby, too, all be it harder. Other more ambiguous examples are the different actors that had attempted to play The Joker or Sherlock Holmes. Sometimes people let their perspective of how they want the character interfere with the role they are trying to play numbing it to more novel and genuine interactions. But I'm one of those people who thinks actors/actresses are better when I can't recognize them from film to film. Some people watch movies to see certain people in them.
i'm actually of the opinion that vincent's cold persona is something that he's cultivated, and not his natural demeanor, kinda like how most people have a "work persona" and a "home persona". his "adapt, overcome" speech is especially ironic because he, himself is only able to do that when things fall within his range of possible hiccups. when the situation is out of his control, he very quickly reverts to patterns he's trained in, from how he covers the train exits, to the way he shoots (he relies on the mozambique technique - 2 to the chest, 1 to the head). the train door moved just enough as he fired, that it blocked all 3 shots. his inability to adapt is precisely what killed him.
One of my favorite films from the early 2000’s. Probably one of 2 times ever where Tom Cruise didn’t “act” like Tom Cruise…and I love it! That’s how great his acting and this film is 🔥
I really need to re-watch this film. Absolute classic. Apparently the night club scene is studied in film school as a perfect example of how to construct a perfect action/tense scene!
People always talk about Heat as a great movie (which it is) but to me Collateral is Michael Mann’s real masterpiece. It’s in my top 3 favorite movies of all time. I saw this movie twice in theaters. The first time I was blown away and the second time I went just to appreciate Tom’s amazing acting.
This was easily my favourite villain of all time in cinema. And my favourite Tom Cruise role. Vincent is cool, super competent, and pure badass but still has an endearing nature. And his thought-provoking rationalizations are just an extension/embodiment of his character; indifferent. He could have easily killed Max at any point of the movie but he still had a SLIVER of humanity in him. You see it briefly when he helps Max, but mostly right after he kills the Jazz player. For a split second, even he can't shake the evil he did from his mind. Watch his face. This was one of Tom Cruise's best performances. He should have been given an Oscar for that. Vincent's only weakness was opening up to Max, and Max's weakness was obviously needing someone like Vincent to help him become more assertive/alpha. Vincent was all about his work, which somehow added to his charisma. Even Tom Cruise described the character as "Dynamic". PREQUEL PREQUEL PREQUEL please! Would Vincent beat Django? lol. As for other villains to cover...Joaquin Phoenix's Commodus from Gladiator comes to mind.
Vincent is, for me, one of film's most compelling and enigmatic villains, up there with Hannibal Lecter, Bill "The Butcher" Cutting, Anton Chigurh, and Heath Ledger's Joker. Vincent is a perfect psychopath, seemingly devoid of any real humanity. Yet after he shoots Daniel in the jazz club, for a fleeting moment, we can see that he's consumed with something resembling guilt or sorrow. This scene was one of the film's most fascinating.
I watched this movie a couple of months ago on Netflix and was blown away, best Tom Cruise movie by far in my opinion, yet I've NEVER heard anyone talk about it.
Vincent's understanding of humanity is actually very accurate people are selfish and aren't going to notice things and they will try to walk away from situations when it doesn't involve them we see this every time on the news
Problem with that though is that that is not everyone. There are exceptions; good people who try to do good. When people discuss "humanity" being like that, they are usually a bad person. They view all people as selfish, remorseless, and apathetic. When the truth is, that's only some people. Treat everyone like they're like that, and you quickly become the bad guy. Good people understand there is a difference between good and bad people, and they judge them individually. Bad people view everyone the same. Vincent was a bad person, and he was wrong.
You saw this in 1964 with Kitty Genovese. A woman was attacked and nobody intervened. They just stood there and watched. Why? Nobody was connected. No common culture, interest, skin in the game, community or trust. Why should they get involved? It's just a random person to them. It's not their business as they see it. And the risk to themselves was too great for a stranger.
Tom was so good in this role. He made a great villain. I wish he’d do more of that but I understand his wanting to be the hero too. It’s just against type for him but he was great. Loved the movie. Thank you for doing this.
I still think no one can be as scary as Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men. Especially since Psychiatrists say he’s the most accurate portrayal of a psychopath. Since he’s so invulnerable to humanity which is chilling to think about. Living without emotion and fear. It’s inhuman.
You see it too. That was a chilling villain. And after I watched it, I thought the end is abrupt & strange. And a minute later I thought, that movie is perfect. And it wins picture of the year. You knew you'd seen something powerful. I totally agree with you. Still my fav movie ever.
Anton Chigurh is inhuman both in how he treats himself and others. Vincent does treat others badly, but he does feel loneliness at some level. Anton simply gives that empty feeling which is super creepy.
Vincent's death scene is actually quite profound. you can tell he has that brief moment of hesitation, but then you can see his Special Forces training kick in and he just calmly accepts it. when he asks Max, "Do you think anybody will notice"? that statement alone tells me that he's clearly lived his entire life and has missed the point. of course, he wasn't talking about his lifeless body on the MTA. what he really meant was, do you think anybody will notice that I'm not here anymore? and even if they notice I'm dead, will anybody care? despite his nihilistic mentality, he clearly longed for a human connection he never got. he never realized his life choices and his job as a hitman alienated him from what he longed for the most. when Vincent dies, notice that the lights behind Max are bright. meaning this grueling night has helped him to overcome his flaws and go after what he wants. the lights are bright implying his future is bright and full of endless possibilities. Vincent has no lights. implying that his life is over and the future he has now will be dark because more than likely he'll be going to hell to pay for all the evil he's done.
I like your breakdown but what fascinates me is how entirely differently I interpreted the same ending. When Vincent says, "Do you think anybody will notice?", and Max struggles to respond but remains silent - I interpreted as meaning that Vincent's psychopathic degree of nihilism is somehow infectious - that Max now sees the world as Vincent did. The very same lights you took to be as positive, I saw as the light passing from Vincent to Max. That one person will remember Vincent forever - Max - and he has been changed by him: and not for the better. I took it as a very negative ending, that this sort of dark triad of traits will always haunt Max and therefore humanity.
@@Yvaelle To me, the reason Max struggles to respond is because, Afterall, it's been one hell of a night. did Vincent change Max? yes, but I think it was for the better. Max had dreams, but he lacked the initiative to do anything about it. he also didnt have much of a spine. these are traits Vincent clearly possesses. naturally, spending time together, Max and Vincent would begin to rub off on each other and learn from the other one. both men are forever changed after their encounter. Max now realizes life is short, like Vincent told him. he's going after what he wants.
@@YvaelleI disagree on it being a negative change for Max. I think Max will take Vincent’s positive characteristics of his point of view on how to just take action but neglect his assassination life. He’ll just take the lesson of DOING IT and facing life fearlessly as Vincent did. Which is why he removed his glasses indicating a change in mentality. Those glasses gave him a passive shy look that was no longer fitted with his action oriented mindset that Vincent gave him. I took it like he was going to go after his dreams with a Vincent mentality which I believe was the purpose of the movie. To show the viewer, through a cool story, to just go after their dreams and JUST DO IT. And it used the metaphor of an assassin doing scary shit(just like chasing your dreams is scary), and doing it.
this man has Military written all over him. when I watched him kill those 2 guys in the alleyway, I just knew. in the film, they said the cartels hire out Ex Special Forces all the time.@@vza7938
Another incredible performance from Tom Cruise. People claim to not like him but it's very hard to deny his acting prowess. Also every time I've heard of anyone meeting him, they have nothing but nice things to say about him. He's actually one of a kind. I feel like he's been at the top of the game for a very long time.
I don’t like him as a person, and especially not the way he treated his wife and the whole freaking Scientology shit but as an actor Tom cruise is the top of the class in how he pushes the boundaries, risks his own life and etc with his stunts, lives life fully and is one of the greats and a fully committed and talented person who gives his all.
I dont dislike him, I just find his movies more interesting than his characters usually, except when he plays chaotic neutral or chaotic evil. Thats the only time where I feel like he's being creative and not just playing a version of himself.
..and Collateral begins where Heat ends, at the airport. Plus, in both endings, the shootout is won by, as Max forshadows (twice) in the beginning of Collateral, "I got lucky with the lights." In Heat, the runway lights turn on, giving Hanna the advantage, in Collateral, they turn off, giving Max the advantage!
An incredible movie and both performances are stellar, I just don't fully understand the underrated nature of this film. It requires so much more credit. And Tom Cruise should pursue roles with this depth of character.
I genuinely want Tom Cruise to play more nasty or just bad guys. This film & Tropic Thunder just proves the incredible potential he has as a villain.
I imagine Tom Cruise with this kind of character in his cult,lol
Lets not forgot Tropic Thunder
He's easy to like in person but easier to dislike on screen
@@gonzo7727 are you being sarcastic....?
Scientologist tom cruise, a good person...? His characters he primarily plays are directly contrary to your statement ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Tropic Thunder too. Tom Cruise knows what he's doing.
Tom Cruise’s most under appreciated performance. Dude was scary, calm, charming and cold hearted. At the end of the day, he was a guy doing his job by any means..
Like a terminator
He wasn't sadistic.
@@lucysnorebush964 Yeah he really wasn't. Not the right choice of word for his character.
@kieran finney Lunatic.
@kieran finney interestinggggg
In case people wonder about how Vincent lost the shootout: Vincent underestimated Max. He went for the mozambique drill (one in the head, two in the chest). You can see the bullet pattern in the door after the lights go back on. The thing is though, Vincent thought less of Max for spending his whole life planning things, being in a routine, and not being able to improvse, yet Vincent dies because of his routine and planned shooting pattern. Vincent breaks Max out of his routine and teaches him to improvise and adapt to the situations throughout the night, and thats how Max ends up winning, taking a chance, improvising, and shooting wildly though the glass. Thematically, and weirdly enough, Vincent actually saves Max's life by teaching him to take more risks like himself, and ends his own life by falling back on a routine, like Max!
There is also the fact that not only did Vincent forshadow his ending with the story about the dead man riding the subway, but Max forshadowed his ending in the beginning as well! He said it twice, actually! Once to Annie, and then to Vincent! How did he make it to each destination on the minute? "I got lucky with the lights!"
Strangely enough, not only does Collateral end at the same train station the Heat begins at, but Collateral starts where Heat ends: at the airport. Plus, how did Hanna win the shoutout at the end of Heat? He got lucky with the lights! Hanna wins with the light turning on, while Max wins with the lights turning off!
Awesome analysis!
Mind blowing analysis
I've seen this movie at least 20 times. So much I overlooked! Great observations!
perfect analysis
Brilliant!
I do think this is one of Cruise's best films. It's a simple story, but it's just executed so well and the performances are perfect. Very underrated.
It’s a simple story on the first degree of lecture. Otherwise I love how some people made me saw storytelling where I didn’t.
At first I thought it was a movie about masculinity. How does it look like when unleashed and repressed masculinity collides and how at the end it converge in Max to convey a much equilibrated vision of it.
But other saw in it a movie about nihilism, a movie about the void left when love is absent.
At the end of the day it could be all of these things but one thing is sure is that it’s a dense movie rather than a simple story
You know something wrong when everybody know about Heat but not Collateral
Its his best work, jamie fox too
This and Born on the 4th July.
They both did a great job with this one, I remember before I saw this thinking of Jamie Fox in just In living color terms.
But I felt this broke him out, or should have, Jamie Fox has some real star power that gets some spit shine in this film for me.
It's insane just how underrated Collateral is
It was nominated for two Oscars and won over 20 awards.
It's 86%/84% on RT and made over $200m in 2004.
@@pancakemogul But it's not talked about much now tho right?
@@pancakemogul yeah but whenever we talk about Michael Mann movies Collateral is never brought up in the discussion, it is always Heat and it's not even brought up when we talk about Tom Cruise's best performances. It feels like many have forgotten about this movie throughout the years and only a select few still remember it and appreciate it.
Came to say the exact same thing.
@@Comicbroe405 Umm, I...guess not? For a 2004 movie, it's less popular than Kill Bill 2, Anchorman and Shawn of the Dead, sure, but I'm guessing above or on par with big ones like Troy, Ray and Million Dollar Baby these days. Even if most people just mention how TC's hip shot is used in tactical handgun training.
You're reminded that Tom Cruise can actually act in this film... A damn near perfect performance. Jamie Foxx got all the praise from the critics, but it was Tom that held our attention.
Yeah jamie foxx is a B grade actor. I don't find him 100% believable in his roles.
The usual affirmative action?
It’s because Jamie Foxx’s performance was more surprisingly great, Tom Cruise has been pretty consistently good at acting so it didn’t stand out as much to the critics.
Cruise always put on great performances, regardless of the quality of the movie.
Jamie Foxx isn't even a good actor lol C level at best
There's more to Vincent than just a manipulative psychopath. In fact, what makes him both scary and grounded is that he's NOT a psychopath. Multiple times in the movie he shows a genuine attachment to Max and pushes him to better his life. He hides behind his job as a reason. He'll say he's just doing what's necessary to make the night and his job go smoothly but I think to Vincent, Max represents a side of humanity that he rarely lets himself see. In the end, Max got the better of him and I don't mean killing him in the final shootout. His time with Max challenged his world view and forced him to self reflect. That's what makes this movie brilliant. It's an intimate character study of two people who make each other question the preconceived ideas they both have about the world and their lives.
AGREE so much Vincent is more than Villain. It is Also Visual Representation of Ideology and Philosophy
Excellent take.
I mean, purely from a "realistic" point of view, Vincent is definitely a psychopath. It's a common psychopathic behavior to exhibit attachment and affection, to create emotional bonds with people. But this is an exploitation technique. As with the jazz player character, those bonds don't actually equate to real emotional attachment the way they do with normal people. Vincent's MO was to build the bond with his driver to learn their vulnerabilities, and keep him off kilter until Vincent got what he needed. Max was never going to survive the night, no matter how much Vincent suggested he cared. He probably said similar stuff to the last cabbie, before killing him at the end of the night, because after all, the cabbie saw his face. It was nothing personal, he'd say. All that encouragement was to create the illusion that the cabbie would survive, so he wouldn't try to run, or make Vincent's job harder.
He may have even meant what he said in the moment. But psychopaths always seem to mean what they say. That's why they can beat lie detector tests. Max was a convenient canvas on which Vincent could project his own ideas of human failing. He never actually saw another human being there, because psychopaths are incapable of seeing other human beings.
Beyond the layer of realism, I think another layer of the film is the conflict between Max's self-delusion and Vincent's opposing self-delusion. Vincent was able to open Max's mind by disillusioning him about his emotional paralysis, forcing him to turn "someday" into "now." Max was never going to have a do or die moment on his own. We sometimes need a crisis to shake us out of apathy. But I think the reason that Max got the better of Vincent was because Vincent was incapable of changing his world-view, and so he couldn't see how he'd changed Max's. It never occurred to him that an actual person was listening to his rhetoric, and was capable of being changed by it, because he only saw people as these machines going through their programming, incapable of transcending who they were. Because he wasn't capable of that. On the realism layer, he wasn't capable because he was a psychopath. On the meaning layer, it was because the very philosophy he lived by was a locked room with no way out. While Max's philosophy allowed room for an update.
In short, Vincent's rigid pragmatism led to resignation, while Max's foolish romanticism allowed room for hope.
I'd argue that he is a textbook psychopath, like clinically speaking he's batting 1.000 to be diagnosed as suffering from psychopathy. Perhaps you mean it in more of a colloquial sense like he isn't insane and isn't in full possession of his faculties, then that I would agree with.
@@cthomas025 there's no such thing as a textbook definition of a psychopath. it's not actually even a real diagnosis and has no real definition that anyone can agree on. I just used it to get my point across
Dude had the most epic death scene. He knew he was shot, he curses and then he casually sits down on the Subway bench. Delivers his last line, and his head dips as he dies. I never get over how he knows he's dead, doesn't express pain, but expresses animosity for understanding its a mortal wound. Then just casually sits down lol.
yeah, its awesome how he ends up as he random dead guy on the train no one will notice is dead for another 12 hours.
@@wotever99ninynine given he is all bloody and the cops will be looking for him, I think he will be found
@@cancerino666 fair
I always hoped we'd see Vincent jumping off the train in the final shot, tricking Max and getting away, much like Chris Shiherlis in Michael Mann's other film Heat. I legit wanted confirmation that he survived solely because he was so frightening to watch. I just wanted more.
If his death was overly theatrical, it would be totally out of character. His death scene was perfect and perfectly incorporates his foreshadowing first ride discussions with Max.
Vincent was a matter-of-fact kind of guy, he ran the numbers after he got mortally clipped by Max and knew he was done for.
He quietly accepts his death, with his last MESSAGE still trying to one up Max and prove him wrong xD
Vincent's checkout was one you would expect from a stoic nihilist, whose one satisfaction and indulgence in life was being good at what he does. The op suggests Vincent was evil - i would disagree and say he was just maladjusted. Some tweaking and he would be a modern day CEO lol
Either way, brilliant acting turn by Cruise. Given his clear talent at harnessing & portraying the darker sides of humanity, it's remarkable he doesn't take more roles as interesting, ambiguous characters.
He's been playing the cookie-cutter buttermilk good-guy characters for 4 decades - doesnt he get bored of that? lol
Absolutely insane performance by Tom Cruise, I was shocked at how realistic Vincent was. It made me re-evaluate him as an actor completely. He needs to play more villains.
You should watch his performance in Magnolia. Long movie but well worth it
Vincent reminded me of the Ice Man, a mafia free contract hit man. There are a couple interviews, and a book on him. There was one killing in particular that reminded me of Vincent.
Dude had to kill someone relatively close to the Ice Man personally. Dude fucked up, got a call to be killed, he shows up Dude knows why IM is there. Starts praying, Ice Man straight up stops. Tells him, "God's got an hour to save you, get to praying. If God comes down within an hour and preforms a miracle to get you outa here I'll never hunt you down." When asked what happened by the interviewer, IM responded with, "God didn't show up that day."
@@CSestp He looks more like a living corpse. He is already dead and realizes that his life alone has come to an end. He even has such an image - Pale like a corpse. There is a feeling that after a certain number of tasks he would shoot himself even if he survived at the end of the film.
@@CSestp that is an incredible line, right up there with many great cinematic moments. The fact that it was actually uttered in reality just gives it so much more weight! I'd watch the crap out of a movie adaptation of that interview/hit.
@@giin97 I think there was a movie not long ago but I felt that the interviews were way more... chilling.
My own take: I think what makes Vincent so terrifying is how normal he can seem sometimes. He isnt some sociopathic alien that is unable to relate to humanity. On the contrary Vincent does have empathy (coyote scene, shoots trumpet). He has charisma. He understands social structures and how to bypass them without being seen. I think he understands humanity too well. Hes just disappointed in the result. Thats why he derides them. Hes a total misanthrope. So he can laugh and have fun, manipulate, work societys hierarchies like a videogame. He literally sees nothing wrong with killing. Hes much more powerful than a sociopathic hermit because he understands humanity too well and is deflated by how weak and meaningless it can be.
An ex special operations soldier or intelligence officer, someone who has seen so much of the worst of humanity, including the horrific results of the things the 'good guys" do and he's lost all faith with mankind. He does what he does with no malice, but because his soul was broken so all he has left is "the job", and everything he's seen in his life, especially the work he formerly did for whatever government employed him, convinced him that this, that murder and brutality is the only way anything good or bad ever really gets done in this world.
Like Zorg said in 5th Element. A died in the wool, stone cold killer.
I like to describe Vincent as someone who isn't a sociopath, but really wants to be one. He wants to feel nothing and care about no one, because then it'd be easier to handle being as alone as he is.
a much better analisys than the one in the video
@@mst3KGf I don't think Vincent cares that he is alone, I believe he prefers it to the company of the majority of people. I also don't think he's into labels, he simply is, what life has made him. He does what he does, without malice, guilt or afterthought and just moves on.
Terrifying, yes, but he's also one of the saddest villains I've ever seen. A deeply lonely man who is incapable of making any kind of real human connection. Sure, he keeps Max around to eventually be a patsy to pin the killings on, but you also get the feeling Max is the first person he's actually had some kind of connection with in a long time and he's prolonging the inevitable as long as he can. And that ending where he asks if anyone will notice him dead on the train is one of the most depressing "last words" moments ever. Plus there's the implications of his horrifically abusive childhood.
Narcs will fuck w you til their dying breath. You're showing empathy for someone who didn't have any. It'd be like petting that coyote walking the street
@@penny8579 i didn't care..
and so tom's character was right..
we act so righteous but in the end... woudl you notice the dead body on the train?
apathy. kinda the movie shows.. its just another collateral damage.. you get use to it.. you become apathetic.
cruise was right.
Pretty cool how it went full circle ⭕️
Doubt he was lonely in the sense of an inability to have people around him who want to be around him as he demonstrated an ability to charm people at will.
Good point!!
Vincent changed the whole Max's life in few hours. He showed him that he was living a pathetic, meaningless life in apathy, waiting for a miracle to happen. Vincent is trying to show him that perpetual dreaming for some goals in life leads to waste and that you need to grab every chance that life gives you. Vincent, while doing horrible things through the night, sends a brilliant message.
There's a great line from Vincent about how Max is letting the price of a down payment on a Lincoln Town Car stand between him and his dreams.
I know what you mean but I would say no he's not - he's simply being a psychopath. Max is simply real and wise and brave enough to find the stones to save his own life. The honest confrontation with evil is what generates the transformation. If evil is done specifically to raise consciousness its not really evil. Psychopaths often intellectually grasp much of this and they often like to sell themselves as the true visionaries doing the real good, unlike the weak do-gooders.
Vincent seems similar to Tyler Durden
@@rumination2399To be fair, sometimes some psychopaths are necessary evils and must change the staus quo in order for society to grow. Also being good isn't enough, one must have conviction to survive nowadays.
Its a classic hero's journey. In the beginning of the movie, Max was basically living an infantile existence and just playing pretend with his big plans but never taking action. Meeting Vincent meant that Max encountered Evil (capital E) which forced him to confront his own shadow to summon the courage and quick thinking to get through the night (literally and figuratively). So many brilliant motifs folded into this masterpiece.
Tom Cruise never gets the recognition he deserves because of the characters he chooses to play, but he’s honestly one of the best actors of his generation. He’s proven he can do it all, even if it’s only once. Collateral is proof of his ability to be in control at all times and hold us in suspense. It’s a fantastic piece of work.
He doesn't get the recognition he deserves because he's the celebrity face of an evil cult, but he's still an amazing actor.
@@22steve5150 I forgot about that aspect of him.
@@keventy6114 I think his religion is why he doesn't get nominated for Oscars, or why he doesn't win them. I'm not a fan of his religion or cult if anyone prefers, but he is arguably the best actor today who hasn't won an Oscar. Actors should be judged on their performance, not on what they believe outside of the industry. IMHO.
@@floydcoppage1499 I agree, if it was any other actor with his body of work, they would probably have two or three Oscars by now. At this point, if he gets a "lifetime achievement award" I would consider it a slap in the face. Eyes wide shut. A few good men. Far and Away. Jerry McGuire. Valkyrie. The Last Samurai. The Firm. Collateral. the mission impossible movies and the list goes on and on.
It just goes to show you how political the academy actually is.
Cruise is a great actor - and he hasn't insanely slapped anyone in a fit of "pseudo anger" in front of millions. And while Cruise is caught in a deplorable cult, so are millions upon millions of fact-denying Fox News brainwashed Trump voters - which is far scarier.
You can always tell it's a Michael Mann movie by hearing the gunshots... He's got an incredible ability to convey the realism of the sound through the full echoing you don't get in other movies. He did the same thing in Heat... Easily one of the best shootouts in film history.
Spot on... gunshots are Loud!! They sound so muffled and harmless in most movies!
....1 of the best??? It's literally the gold standard.
Heat is what gunfire is all about. That scene is the Michael Jordan of shootouts.
Don't forget about The Last of the Mohicans. Every cannon and musket fire sends chills down your spine. And it's also historically accurate because it has that loud "click" that's heard before a black powder musket shoots.
@@jonathanwelke Heat and Aliens "Let's rock!"
"Yo, homie. Is that my briefcase?"
The way he realistically and effortlessly turns the tables of the situation by going from the victim to the executioner is remarkable.
That moment alone made me fall in love with the character
Best part in my opinion. I've watched over and over!
@@stoveboltlvr3798 Literally hundreds of times
Great scene.
Because he was never a victim any more than a tiger is a victim when it's approaching a couple of goats.
A great villain. So much presence, scary and evil. Cold as ice. A brutal performance by Tom Cruise.
Sounds like how Katie described him.
Wish he'd play a villain role for just one more film. I gotta see more it.
Evil? nah
The fact that people are passionately discussing their different interpretations of Vincent’s character shows just how incredibly well written and acted he was.
@@lisadee7150 Funny thing is Jamie Fox is dating his ex-wife Katie Holmes.
I completely agree. Tom's best performance ever
No, its just Tom Hanks Fanboys try to convince Thereself this lil boy is an Action hero actor
@@carhawara3394 😂😂😂😂
@@carhawara3394 *Their-selves*
and what now?
We saw this trend in the early 2000's with Denzel in Training Day, Tom Cruise in Collateral, and Tom Hanks in Road to Perdition. We're so used to their good boy roles, it's exciting to see these actors switch it up.
Yes! Road to Perdition, wowza love Hanks as well. Cruise's *BEST* role here.
Training Day is easily top 3 movies for me. Denzel and Ethan were fantastic.
@@rash9488 I agree. It has a special place in my heart because I grew up in those locations.
_What Lies Beneath_ succeeded in keeping you wondering until the end almost entirely because of the assumption that Harrison Ford is always the good guy.
Cruise is better in Collateral than Denzel in Training Day, everyday and twice on Sunday.
I think Tom took the part just to show that he could be the non-hero in a movie role and once he's displayed it like no other, he never went back. It was a unique and refreshing experience for him that it showed how good of an actor he truly is.
@@Rallzyugh..... im just going to call you dumb.
Cruise played an excellent psychologically realistic and deep asshole in Magnolia - very convincingly - several years before The Collateral. Actually it was one of his best performances and he was so good in that role, that I was left thinking there was A LOT of his true self in it.
one of the reasons this movie is one of my personal favorites, it's the first time seeing him as a villain and he kills it
@@Rallzy yeah bc obviously he's never had a history of drug abuse, never had a history of anxiety, and he toooootally wasn't goofing off behind the scenes during his joker role. Do me a favor and stop taking movies "...so serious"
He played a non-hero, heartless, antagonist type in Tropic Thunder as well. Also to much acclaim
Most underrated film of all time
Tom Cruise deserves an Oscar for this role.
No because Anton chigurh didn’t get a reward for his role which is levels above Tom cruise
@@zakariamore1575 ...he did
@@zakariamore1575 Levels above? No, they were both equally great. Anton is scarier in a way, sure. But Vincent is realistic and Collateral could really happen. Both did amazing and (no pun intended!) killed their respective roles. With Tom Cruise, you expect that. With Javier Bardem, he is not as well known as Cruise of course, but no one could have portrayed Anton like he did!
Another idiot using the word underrated because everyone else uses it without knowing what the fuck it means...
Chigurh is scary to you normies as an opportunist
Vincent is scary to us all as a super achiever
I always got the feeling John Wick was based on Vincent. Especially when he's in the club. Loved Tom in this film.😎
John Wick is more "comic book" style of a movie/hitman. Vincent has a more believable atmosphere and his character more philosophical than simply his dog being killed.
just watched collateral and thought the same thing! The close quarters gunplay looks very similar
You hit that right on the head. I KNEW I saw John Wick somewhere else...
We need a Vincent John Wick mashup in John Wick 5
Funny enough, in Payday 2 there’s a pair of glasses that are called “Collateral” I think. It references the movie and that John Wick was actually set out to kill Vincent but someone beat him to the punch. Despite canon issues with John Wick in Payday 2, I’d say it’s totally possible that Vincent was part of that world and Transporter as mentioned before. I believe the Transporter one was actually confirmed.
This movie is one of my all time favourites, Tom cruise played the role so well and gave a reason for all his actions. Love when he told Max "You can't even take the girl out, you sit there saying one day my time will come, one day my time will come". He's the villain but definitely says it the way it is.
exactly, sometimes few years passes in life without any changing or having real new knowledge about things, but one encounter with someone or a stranger and one conversation could add up a lot of realisation, that makes you look and wonder how long have you been going this road and maybe let you do some immediate decisions, like he could or wanted to call her right now, why the wait.. life is short, opportunities doesn't last.
Jamie Foxx was nominated for an Oscar for this movie and I was Really surprised Cruise wasn’t also nominated…They are BOTH that good!
I don't think Hollywood likes Tom.
Tom may never win an Oscar due to Hollywood's hate for him doing things his way.
Foxx was a token nomination.
Yes.
@@frankgesuele6298 if I remember correctly, Hollywood tried to shut him down…..until they were reminded how much of their money came from him. Yes they’re that dumb
I hate how the critics mostly focused on Jamie Foxx character sure he's good and all,but so was Tom Cruise and this was his second villain role and it was amazing for him to play as the bad guy.
Fox was OK. Cruise made him look greater than he was. Cruise was brilliant and owned the screen.
what critics
@@RamperChampion Rotten tomatoes
@@RamperChampion Rotten tomatoes
@@RamperChampion Rotten tomatoes
FINALLY SOMEBODY TALKED ABOUT VINCENT. I was a kid when I saw this movie and I was completely enthralled by the character. It actually made me think. The character deserved more iswtg. It was a magnificent performance. Collateral was criminally underrated.
I swear to god
@@picolascage5270lol thanks
What gets overlooked is that Cruise is as much a capable actor as he is a megastar. This role, and that disturbed, maladjusted self help guy in Magnolia are testimony to his range in playing dark roles.
Also did a great job as Lestat.
Tom Cruise is unbelievably talented, don't care what anyone says, and he constantly strives to impress his audiences, we pay these stars millions of dollars, he shows up everytime
Cruise single handedly made _Rock of Ages_ watchable because of his amazing character of Stacee Jaxx. Dude even did his own singing!
There are enough movies out there where you can see Cruise's range as an actor. I love his Ethan Hunt and Lestat. If you give him enough room to be "morally grey" in a character he can send chills up your spine. He's even pretty good in a romantic drama. Probably hands down the best actor Hollywood has ever seen.
@@Craig_N Cruise is a good actor and always entertaining, but "best actor in Hollywood" is quite a stretch.
I have never regretted to say that Tom Cruise is the last superstar of Hollywood. He is **** great.
@Islayman you mean like in Venom?
Cruise and Will Smith.
I know I know the slap blah blah blah, but Smith will bounce back. He just like cruise got the charm, the talent, the wide range/variation and pure raw star power.
@@bongumusasibiya1772 will Smith is a great actor slap or no slap
Agreed
Collateral is my favorite Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx movie. The L.A. New Noir atmosphere and world along with the two stars make this movie an instant cult classic for me.
I believe the scene with the coyotes wasn't necessarily about him seeing himself as a predator. What I noticed was him noticing Max's humanity in respecting other living creatures. The way he unexpectedly slowed down to them pass and not take his own right of way while driving. Something Vincent wasn't expecting to see from max. Maybe, as the video states, Vincent had grown cold and distant to his own sense of humanity and didn't expect that from another human.
"The way he unexpectedly slowed down to them pass and not take his own right of way while driving." ... I would expect it, but not for the reason you express here. People are conditioned to stop at red-lights or stop signs when no car is even there or wash their hands like their dick is toxic waste, humans commonly do all sorts of things for no reason. Different societies have different conditioning, thus different norms. It's not respect for life that stops a person from running over animals, it's needless and there is no gain from doing so, right? I've killed lots of animals cause I like eating them, that is the gain.
@Daniel Gutierrez I'm happy I'm not the only one who thought about it that way!
I interpreted the coyote scene as a metaphor for what vincent was talking about earlier, "Adapt, Darwin, I Ching. Whatever Man, We Gotta Roll With It" the coyotes had to adapt to living in the metro LA area to survive; as did vincent and max had to adapt that evening to survive, if vincent didn't complete his work, it meant both their asses- and seeing the coyotes was perfection punctuation for that and they both had that moment mentally at the same time. I always like to hear other folks interps on this scene, and I like yours, I think it's the best scene in the movie, with such a powerful choice of score with the audioslave track
Respectfully, I disagree. Here’s how I saw that scene: Max stops to let the coyotes cross. The two men watch the animals as they slink through the city. Yeah, they’re predators. But they’re notoriously cowardly. They go after prey that’s ideally weaker than themselves. They’re ambush hunters too. There’s nothing really noble about how the coyote hunts and kills. I think there’s two concepts present in that scene. One, Vincent has disdain for the city because it’s full of people. In his mind, worthless, filthy, pointless hordes of people. He likes to think of his forays into these places as an apex predator, hunting the sheep. But the second concept is that he sees the coyotes and realizes that’s what he really is. An ambush hunter, doing the dirty work, killing the unsuspecting prey, at the behest of the more powerful truly apex predators. A coyote. Max sees the animals and can appreciate that nature finds a way to adapt to the environment - even one that humans have created and paved over. But also, Max sees Vincent as a coyote. Dangerous, but also fearful. Capable of deadly violence, but also wanting to avoid direct confrontation. A determined human can run off a coyote with a display of aggression, especially if they’re not in a pack. And Vincent definitely has no pack. He’s just a lone coyote, trying to convince you he’s a Lion.
And in the end, it’s with an act of aggression that Max defeats Vincent.
That's how I've always seen that scene too
Collateral is my favorite movie off all time. it was just so influential on me growing up, this movie showed me what movies as a medium can be, not only visually but also in storytelling. and Vincent is a once in a lifetime type performance, Cruise should've gotten an oscar for this
100% agree, soundtrack 👌 too
I definitely fight with the fact that this could by my favourite movie as well
@@jacofalltrades7610 definitely. James Newton Howard and Tom Rothrock knocked it outta the park with the soundtrack
I agree with this!
Ready steady go.
The scene with the wolf to the background music of Audioslave is probably the most hauntingly perfect cinematic moment I've ever seen in my life. I saw the movie two days ago for the first time and I can't get that scene or song out of my head. Mesmerizing.
got me too then,.. shivers
It seems you haven´t seen enough movies...
@@MrCarpen7erno. It's just that good of a scene.
I agree, it was on TV one day so I tried it, wow.
that was a coyote not a wolf
You've been covering some great characters lately and I'm here for it. First Alonzo Harris, then Calvin Candie, and Now Vincent from Collateral in Tom Cruise's best performance of his career. He's the type of villain that's more of an antagonist than a flat out bad guy, yet his actions are callous and cold but his motivations make complete sense, and he's he true catalyst for Max's arc in the film. One of Michael Mann's best films.
Yea the videos have been poppin lately, nice work!
It's a toss up between Collateral and Heat for me
um… vincent is definitely a bad guy, and his motivations dont make complete sense, his character is just such a good manipulator that he even convinced you.
@@bennett4789 it does make complete sense from a strictly transactional point of view. But the way he conducts himself, is very intriguing
@@waltermatthewberg I wonder what it is about the name Vincent and Michael Mann. Pacino's character in Heat was also named Vincent.
This is my favorite Tom Cruise movie, his portrayal of Vincent really elevated the film. 🙂
If that's ur favorite then u have bad tastes smh
@@philliplamb2761 Oh no, random internet guy thinks I have bad taste!
@@Bodyknock not a random internet guy o heaven's no, I'll say it in ur face, just as nicely too 🤷..the movie underated for sure, but I'll watch edge of tomorrow before that any day of the week, and that movie still not my top 5 🤷.
😎 Vincent is right !!
Personally I liked him in Legend the most.
i think one overlooked moment in the video is the expression in Vincent's face when the hold the jazz player's head so it doesn't hit the table after being shoot. With one look, one expression, Cruise shows all the conflict feelings in Vincent for killing someone he became a fan of in one night. His love for jazz is real, as shown in the knowledge he has of Miles Davies. His admiration of the player is also real. So is his commitment to his work. Easily one of Cruise's greatest performances
A side note about the production, this was one of the first major films shot with a *digital* camera - which allowed night shoots without the need for lights to be set up. That allowed a lot of freedom and the dark grittiness of the visuals, instead of having everything lit up. It also meant they could check on the footage straight away.
Keanu did a interesting documentary series on filmmaking (the Side by Side series, not sure which one, but maybe the first?) which looked at the rise of digital filming, and mentions this.
He got a lot of access to various people in the industry because, well.... he's Keanu.
wow...i was wondering how this looked so much like a john wick predecessor, toned down with more realism...the club scenes and all.....vincent is a cooler john wick for me...
@@vza7938Agreed! I watched Collateral as a kid & loved it plus Vincent is more realistic due to not being as over the top compared to characters like John Wick yet still an absolute trained killer!
@@brandonsalisbury7182 man how did u love it as a kid? Maybe u were intelligent enough to appreciat that its not just an action flick..i think the actions were there just to convey that vincent was about what he spoke of
As I’ve always thought that this was one of Cruise’s best performances. It’s so ironic cause when we as an audience think about someone playing the role of a cold blooded killer Tom Cruise is easily one of the last people we would ever consider for that part. Most of his career he’s been the charismatic, good natured hero so to see him, not only in a completely opposite role, but to also play it incredibly well is really a testament to how good of an actor Tom Cruise is. I really wish he would play this type of role one more time before he retires cause he was just so good at it.
Ironically, his first major role was as a villain (Taps)
@@ra639 I saw it at the theater. He was good in it.
Like Henry Fonda in Once Upon a Time in the West.
The aspect of this movie that I love so much is Vincent's unquestionable refusal to fail. Blunder after blunder (1st dead guy falls out a window, losing all info in his briefcase, having to meet Max's mom, the debacle at the Asian night club, cops pulling Max over for the damaged windshield, dealing with the cab dispatcher, killing the thugs who tried to steal his briefcase, etc.)....he _refuses_ to stop. He will re-think, manipulate, coerce, threaten, conceal, over-ride or demand action to complete his task. And all the while....being in control. I never appreciated Tom Cruise's work until that movie, then I changed my mind.
A cool detail in the final shootout is often missed. Vincent frequently uses what is called a "Mozambique" or "failure to stop" technique in his shooting. Two rounds in the chest, one in the head. This precision is shown through the movie, like in the alley way with the two thugs. At the end, because Vincent is reliant on his muscle memory for this perfect shooting technique, notice that his three rounds strike the train door. Meanwhile, Max is spraying wildly and ends up landing a shot. It was Vincent's strict adherence to his training that ended up killing him.
We call it a failure drill in the marine s. Two chest one sight picture one sight alignment and then one tbox between the eyes severes the brain stem instant death cut move a muscle
Pretty cool u know this most civilians don't
I wouldnt say Max is spraying Wildly - he takes a shot and shuffles side to side kinda, so one bullet is able to go through the train car door windows. He improvises, adapts, E-Ching, overcome. It's not by the book like Vincent who does the reflexive technique
@@Defender78 He got lucky but that's all it takes. 19 out of 20 times, he would of died but Vincent has been doing this for so long, that he got his 1 in 20 roll of bad luck. Good ending.
The phrase “Professionals are predictable, but the world is full of amateurs” came to mind when I watched this scene.
TC is beyond a top tier actor... he is just a genius at what he does.
He truly is, but imo it's unfortunate he'd rather jump off jets or mountains and be a movie star/stunt man then a great actor. I wish his career was more like Leo's because he's truly great.
@@donaldshotts4429 People forget but Tom Cruise was amazing in Born on 4th of July and should of gotten a oscar for it.
Tom Cruise’s scientology and the whole Oprah couch thing make him criminally underrated - this man is an all time amazing actor and does not get the credit he deserves.
The couch jump was athletic. He effortlessly rose off the floor onto cushions. A bit of his stunt abilities. Audience was crazy for it; Oprah later said in an interview with Tom that it was fun and it was. As for Scientology, could be it has something to do with Tom's abilities. We never hear of him needing rehab.
People dismiss him because of that. But any really talented actor or artist or even director will always kind of be "out there" and cruise is no exception.
Absolutely, he is an all time great
Who actually cares about the couch jump, really?
He is very talented, but I don't know that I would say that he is "underrated" as an actor. I think most people realize his talent, but can't get past his personal goofiness.
My issue with Cruz is that he tends to play the same rolls over and over. Guy with a lot of potential meets tragedy that makes him rethink his life. In the end comes back stronger than ever. It is Risky Business. It is Days of Thunder. It is Top Gun 1 and 2. It is most of his movies. Its like watching WWE. You know exactly how most movies will turn out.
The details he goes through when killing his targets is insane ! You have to rewatch his kills to really appreciate his planning and execution
Tom Cruise is the last real movie star IMO. He's been vindicated in multiple ways lately. I have no issue with seeing TC as a villian. He's a good actor.
I love the nighttime setting in the city. The lights, the sounds (and absence of)... so good.
I always felt that Tom Crusie deserved an oscar for the role. he played vincent to such perfection that it leaves the audience wanting to like him and even forgive him if he had some back story but as it turns out, he is just an evil guy.
Other incredible performances from Tom Cruise are in The Last Samurai, A Few Good Men, Born on The Fourth of July, Tropic Thunder, Jack Reacher, Oblivion, War of The Worlds, Vanilla Sky, and Minority Report. He's a brilliant actor.
Absolutely!
You not mentioning Vanilla Sky but including Jack Reacher calls the value of your opinion into question.
@@fredbloggs5902 shut up
For the love of God, give his Lestat some credit
"Without me, life would be even more unbearable."
It helps add weight to a darker character when he usually doesn't play that type. It's a shock and makes it more powerful and affecting when he does change it up. Lestat was also a hugely effective role for the same reason.
This is such an underrated movie! Good story, Good acting, Filming is amazing. One of the rare films where all the stars align and create such an intense feeling and connection to the film. Love it!
In the last 15 years, Tom Cruise has done a great job at making most people forget he can seriously act, the way he can stand out among stacked casts is crazy- in this and magnolia in particular
I love Collateral. It is so elegant and professional amidst it's simple premise. It features fantastic actors doing parts they are not known for and cranking their abilities to 11. And Los Angeles at night, a character all it's own, beautifully framed in a way that has you tasting the humidity in the air and smelling the dinginess that is not often portrayed in film.
And, then there is Vincent. One of the best written characters in the new millennium. Portrayed by Tom Cruise, a man who has made his career off of the righteous man and heartthrob suddenly becoming the darkest form of predator while seamlessly blending into the grey landscape that L.A. has to offer.
He is *not* a monster......he is a professional. But what makes him so damn despicable is how he drags Max, an innocent man, through the mud kicking and screaming the whole way.
However, I do believe that both Max and Vincent, in a different time and different circumstances, could have found a way to be good friends. And that is what makes it so damn brilliant, by the final showdown, you have no idea who to root for. It's also what makes the final outcome not only righteous, but also so tragic.
It is, and always will be, a captivating and enthralling performance given by Cruise. Every time I watch it, I can never look away. It only proves that Tom Cruise is one of the best actors of this generation.
Vincent was lightning in a bottle. If Cruise is to ever bring such an ambiguous character to life again, it will be welcome, but tough to find.
Great movie, truly underrated. Vincent is spot on about us being less connected. Sure Social media allows for many people to see you and even to a point understand you. Yet, these connections are superfisical with no real depth. There are times in our history were gathering together for meals or being together were common place and looked forward to. Simpler life maybe, compared to the choas we are in now. Back then, you went out of your way to help a total stranger, in fact I have cousins who farm and would go check on neighbors miles away cause the hadn't heard or seen them in awhile. Learning to put people in a box of indifference makes us less comapassionate towards our fellow man/woman. I'm old school, I loved growing up having block parties, neighborhood cook outs, a bazillion kids running up and down the streets where everyone looked out for everyone. Technology is great, but it can never replace the bond of true person connections.
Yeah, I couldn't honestly agree that "the world is more connected than ever" on anything besides a blanket, obviously true statement of "yeah, we have internet now to talk to people in Japan or something". We're so, but so connected, that multiplayer games, the crowning achievement of the merge between social and interactive entertainment, is a bunch of people being silent and awkwardly avoiding each other; social media is people posting things for social points and rarely anything else to the point that some spend hours just watching random videos and clicking the like button instead of cleaning the goddamn sink already; everyone has gotten so disconnected to the human behind the computer, that it has become pitifully easy(er) to dehumanize others during political discussions and treat disagreements as personal attacks that need to be met with force. It's not to say that people aren't capable of being good or form proper relationships both online and offline, but the internet has surfaced so many problems with collective behavior that sometimes I wish we went back to sending letters to each other. I don't even know the name of anyone in my building, even if I know most of their faces; we have no reason to talk when anyone can get better distracted by the rectangular flashlight.
seems the three of us disagree with the narrator on that point
this was 2004. well before social media became a major thing, which makes his opinions on the lack of human interaction resonate better.
superficial
@@ShabbsArt the idea that living in high density populations causes or, at least, tends to correlate with social disconnect is a very old one
This is one of my favorite movie villains of all time. And the part when he says "you weren't gonna do it anyway" is perhaps the most influential bit of dialog I've got from a movie ever. Evertime I plans something and want to check if I'm actually fooling myself or if I really want to follow through with it I think of that moment and it helps me get a clear outlook on things.
I've always said this was Tom Cruise's best performance. I have been dying to have him tackle a sinister role again. Maybe he's waiting until he can't run anymore?
This is such an underrated film. It’s a whole mood and vibe. Tom Cruise is incredible in it. Love it love it..gotta go watch it again now
I never saw this movie. Ten seconds in, I stopped it, pulled it up and watched the entire two hour movie in one sitting. This is at least the third or fourth movie you've gotten me to watch because of your analysis.
Thanks for broadening my mental movie library where I was dearly missing out.
Respect.
more than a year later, same story - algorithm worked its charm, stopped few seconds later, watched the movie just now and went back to the video straight away just to appreciate the comments.. despite what vincent represents, i have to agree his worldview on "take every opportunity life throws at you" wholeheartedly
this film is a masterpiece and both performances are incredible.
Underrated film, underrated role. What a villain Vincent really was.
I saw this movie multiple times in theaters and enjoy watching it at home whenever I'm not preoccupied. It's such a good film, with everyone bringing their A Game on all fronts. Thanks for bringing light to it!
I showed my youngest brother this movie, he’s 23 and has never heard of this movie. One of his top fav movies now. It was such a great movie.
i love how every once in a while a renowned star steps out of their own limelight to conduct a completely and unexpectedly brilliant performance. that's truly remarkable talent.
I watched this movie while living in a container in Iraq in 2005, I was thoroughly impressed by both Fox's and Cruise's performances. I wish they still made movies like this.
I got shot twice and very nearly died in Iraq in 2005.
@@rascalmatt6713 The true start of the civil war
@@rascalmatt6713 Glad you made it bro.
@@timothybeardsley2715 Yeah... sometimes i wonder if i'd have been better of dead.
good stuff. i’d go further to say what is scarier about vincent is that he doesn’t have “wants and desires,” which is worse than seeking only one’s wants and desires above all else. he’s absorbed the cyborg programming the extant human in him despises.
What makes Tom less palatable for most people I talk to, is exactly what makes me most happy to watch him. Like Vincent, he's razor sharp and appears un wavering or even a bit crazy...
Not only do I think he's one of the best actors I've ever scene... his work is almost impeccable!
I'd love to see him do at least one more like this... but I don't see it happening, at least not in this decade. :(
I miss villains like this. No sad backstory, no redeeming qualities, just pure evil.
I mean, his mom died giving birth to him, his father was abusive. I think that qualifies as having a sad backstory.
@@rayraine1528 I mean, not making the audience sympathize with him with constant reminder of his backstory.
I wouldn't say he was pure evil; he had a very twisted code but I agree with you overall. Hollywood these days does seem to drop the ball with many villains. Kylo in the new Star Wars trilogy comes to mind.
One important difference in Vincent and the other villains stated in this video is that the others have an aspect of theatricality to them, they are somewhat over the top. Vincent feels believable enough to from the real world. Like if you just went out to a crowded enough place, you may be within his reach.
This movie actually had some similarities with Training Day, the plot and the way the movie was made, the style.
cool. i thought the same thing
thats what i thought. both are some of my fav films
I've watched this in the cinema, alone and I enjoyed every second of it. Cruise was really amazing!
I love the final shootout. Tom, being well trained with built in muscle memory, aims for the center of the sternum, and Fox shoots sporadically, but the door was in the way. Fox got lucky. Such a great scene!
One of my favourite films from the early 2000’s, also possibly my favorite Tom Cruise performance. Rewatched it again last year and it was just as tight and gripping as when I first watched it in the theatres. The coyote shots stayed vivid with me over the years even though at the time I wasn’t sure what it was suppose to implicate but something resonated.
I love the acting of Tom Cruise and I wish he would do more roles such as this one.
This is one of the most underrated action movies of all-time! Plus, its cinematography is so eyes pleasing and unique, they managed to make LA to look so beautiful; you just don’t usually find such elements in an action film.
Absolutely criminally underrated movie
Tom has arguably the best film repertoire of any actor.
Well I think Harrison Ford , Keanu Reeves, Daniel Day- Lewis may have to have a spot in that conversation and if you are staying contemporary and Jamie Foxx is PFG too ! :)
Daniel Day Lewis is the greatest actor of all-time, even though Benecio is my favorite.
Tom Cruise is definitely top 20.
@@b.g.3073 I love Mr. Lewis, but the number of films he's done isn't very large. My point was more the quantity and quality of films. There are certainly better actors than Tom.
@@theimp5901 Ford may be the closest given Star Wars, Blade Runner, Raiders and the Jack Ryan films.
@@dr.emilschaffhausen4683 Yes Mr.Lewis does not have a large base of block buster films but l feel he is certainly the best actor of this group.I think we forgot Russell Crowe.
Having Audioslave in the background with the coyote scene is one of the most perfect combinations of music and visuals on any film. Perfect.
When I saw that first kill and that "bullets and the fall" line in a preview trailer, I knew I was going to go see this movie, and I was going to love it. And I did. I bought the DVD too, on the day it dropped and nearly wore it out. I have watched this movie more than 100 times. One of my all-time favorites.
For me the most chilling moment is in the Jazz Bar, when Vincent is arguing with Max, he never takes his eyes of the target. He is so coldly focused on taking out his target and Max in that moment is so unimportant that he doesn't even spare Max a glance.
Like many, I think this is one of Cruise's best performances, but a lot of that comes from the character having depth and nuance. I seem to remember reading that Cruise enjoyed the role because it wasn't just a cookie-cutter villain and I suspect he has set a very high standard of villain he would be willing to take on.
I also remember reading he genuinely enjoys the Mission Impossible films.
Collateral is such an under appreciated film and is definitely one of my favourites.
My favorite thing about Cruise's performance in Collateral was how he blended in desperation with the stern horror of the character. Vincent and Max are on opposite ends of the spectrum, but they both have a common yearning for connection and an unwillingness to achieve it for darker personal reasons than they let on. The end chase when Cruise nearly faceplants after trying to jump the chair is a great example of his execution. Accident or not, the fact that he KNOWS he has to catch Max wouldn't have been communicated nearly as well if Cruise had played the character and stunt work perfectly cold. It's just a small touch of many that add up to arguably one of Cruise AND Foxx's most nuanced performances.
Like for as much praise as Cruise gets, you BELIEVE Foxx is a cab driver from the second the movie starts. He not only sold the role, but he sold his performance as the perfect vehicle for Cruise's. They made such an incredible duo and I honestly wish they would act in more things together.
They’re likely never working together again. Foxx dated Katie Holmes after she divorced Cruise. That would be pretty awkward on set and the media would absolutely harp on that fact during promotion for the movie.
his performance as vincent was brilliant it’s one of the reasons why collateral is such a good movie
I thought this was one of Jamie's better roles as well. He usually played the jock and like Quentin described him; wanted to be star, but when adapts to the role he pulls off the acting VERY well.
it was funny when Quentin confronted him on the first day shooting Django when he saw him showing up on the set with his fancy clothes and entourage, and just shouted at him WTF are you doing you're a F*king slave
Well Jamie Foxx was not only nominated for best actor for Ray which he won, but also best supporting actor for Collateral in the same year.
@@andrewforte3852 Ray was meh, I thought. I don't know why, but I thought like it was "his" version of Ray and they really share some personality traits that made it "easier" to channel Ray. Example of this is his acting in Any Given Sunday. Just didn't feel genuine, in my opinion. However I forgive him for trying to shine a better light on a talented and yet flawed individual. It would be hard to pull of a role as Bill Cosby, too, all be it harder. Other more ambiguous examples are the different actors that had attempted to play The Joker or Sherlock Holmes. Sometimes people let their perspective of how they want the character interfere with the role they are trying to play numbing it to more novel and genuine interactions.
But I'm one of those people who thinks actors/actresses are better when I can't recognize them from film to film. Some people watch movies to see certain people in them.
i'm actually of the opinion that vincent's cold persona is something that he's cultivated, and not his natural demeanor, kinda like how most people have a "work persona" and a "home persona".
his "adapt, overcome" speech is especially ironic because he, himself is only able to do that when things fall within his range of possible hiccups. when the situation is out of his control, he very quickly reverts to patterns he's trained in, from how he covers the train exits, to the way he shoots (he relies on the mozambique technique - 2 to the chest, 1 to the head). the train door moved just enough as he fired, that it blocked all 3 shots. his inability to adapt is precisely what killed him.
One of my favorite films from the early 2000’s. Probably one of 2 times ever where Tom Cruise didn’t “act” like Tom Cruise…and I love it! That’s how great his acting and this film is 🔥
When is the second time?
@@pavitrprabhakar3981 Tropic Thunder
I really need to re-watch this film. Absolute classic. Apparently the night club scene is studied in film school as a perfect example of how to construct a perfect action/tense scene!
People always talk about Heat as a great movie (which it is) but to me Collateral is Michael Mann’s real masterpiece. It’s in my top 3 favorite movies of all time. I saw this movie twice in theaters. The first time I was blown away and the second time I went just to appreciate Tom’s amazing acting.
He was so terrifying, even Anton Chigurh steered clear of him.
Collateral is one of Tom Cruises best movies ever.
Criminally underrated.
This was easily my favourite villain of all time in cinema. And my favourite Tom Cruise role. Vincent is cool, super competent, and pure badass but still has an endearing nature. And his thought-provoking rationalizations are just an extension/embodiment of his character; indifferent. He could have easily killed Max at any point of the movie but he still had a SLIVER of humanity in him. You see it briefly when he helps Max, but mostly right after he kills the Jazz player. For a split second, even he can't shake the evil he did from his mind. Watch his face. This was one of Tom Cruise's best performances. He should have been given an Oscar for that. Vincent's only weakness was opening up to Max, and Max's weakness was obviously needing someone like Vincent to help him become more assertive/alpha. Vincent was all about his work, which somehow added to his charisma. Even Tom Cruise described the character as "Dynamic". PREQUEL PREQUEL PREQUEL please! Would Vincent beat Django? lol.
As for other villains to cover...Joaquin Phoenix's Commodus from Gladiator comes to mind.
Oh. I think all of us here would be up for a sequel, calling Michael Mann..
Tom Cruise is an incredible actor. As much as I love the Mission Impossible movies I wish he'd do more dramatic movies again.
Vincent is, for me, one of film's most compelling and enigmatic villains, up there with Hannibal Lecter, Bill "The Butcher" Cutting, Anton Chigurh, and Heath Ledger's Joker.
Vincent is a perfect psychopath, seemingly devoid of any real humanity. Yet after he shoots Daniel in the jazz club, for a fleeting moment, we can see that he's consumed with something resembling guilt or sorrow. This scene was one of the film's most fascinating.
I watched this movie a couple of months ago on Netflix and was blown away, best Tom Cruise movie by far in my opinion, yet I've NEVER heard anyone talk about it.
Vincent's understanding of humanity is actually very accurate people are selfish and aren't going to notice things and they will try to walk away from situations when it doesn't involve them we see this every time on the news
Problem with that though is that that is not everyone. There are exceptions; good people who try to do good. When people discuss "humanity" being like that, they are usually a bad person. They view all people as selfish, remorseless, and apathetic. When the truth is, that's only some people.
Treat everyone like they're like that, and you quickly become the bad guy. Good people understand there is a difference between good and bad people, and they judge them individually. Bad people view everyone the same.
Vincent was a bad person, and he was wrong.
Most people
@@mr.doctorcaptain1124 Yet those people apmost dont exist anymore. Everyone doesn't want to get involved, especially in violent encounters
You saw this in 1964 with Kitty Genovese. A woman was attacked and nobody intervened. They just stood there and watched. Why?
Nobody was connected. No common culture, interest, skin in the game, community or trust.
Why should they get involved? It's just a random person to them. It's not their business as they see it.
And the risk to themselves was too great for a stranger.
@@robertpatter5509 the bystander effect was still up for debate
Tom was so good in this role. He made a great villain. I wish he’d do more of that but I understand his wanting to be the hero too. It’s just against type for him but he was great. Loved the movie. Thank you for doing this.
Go against the grain Tom, go against the grain. Vincent was stellar.
I still think no one can be as scary as Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men.
Especially since Psychiatrists say he’s the most accurate portrayal of a psychopath. Since he’s so invulnerable to humanity which is chilling to think about.
Living without emotion and fear. It’s inhuman.
Totally agree, Vincent imo does not hold a candle to Anton
@@aram00001 Vincent can easily be found in real life.
@@Patrickbatemanharvard I need to understand what I stand to win, sir
You see it too. That was a chilling villain. And after I watched it, I thought the end is abrupt & strange. And a minute later I thought, that movie is perfect.
And it wins picture of the year.
You knew you'd seen something powerful. I totally agree with you. Still my fav movie ever.
Anton Chigurh is inhuman both in how he treats himself and others. Vincent does treat others badly, but he does feel loneliness at some level. Anton simply gives that empty feeling which is super creepy.
Loved this film when I first saw it... superbly acted by both leads.
I wish his character had not died, I want more of this character, it's a haunting performance
Good point!
These guys were fantastic in this movie. Character development was perfection.
Vincent's death scene is actually quite profound. you can tell he has that brief moment of hesitation, but then you can see his Special Forces training kick in and he just calmly accepts it. when he asks Max, "Do you think anybody will notice"? that statement alone tells me that he's clearly lived his entire life and has missed the point. of course, he wasn't talking about his lifeless body on the MTA. what he really meant was, do you think anybody will notice that I'm not here anymore? and even if they notice I'm dead, will anybody care? despite his nihilistic mentality, he clearly longed for a human connection he never got. he never realized his life choices and his job as a hitman alienated him from what he longed for the most. when Vincent dies, notice that the lights behind Max are bright. meaning this grueling night has helped him to overcome his flaws and go after what he wants. the lights are bright implying his future is bright and full of endless possibilities. Vincent has no lights. implying that his life is over and the future he has now will be dark because more than likely he'll be going to hell to pay for all the evil he's done.
I like your breakdown but what fascinates me is how entirely differently I interpreted the same ending. When Vincent says, "Do you think anybody will notice?", and Max struggles to respond but remains silent - I interpreted as meaning that Vincent's psychopathic degree of nihilism is somehow infectious - that Max now sees the world as Vincent did. The very same lights you took to be as positive, I saw as the light passing from Vincent to Max. That one person will remember Vincent forever - Max - and he has been changed by him: and not for the better. I took it as a very negative ending, that this sort of dark triad of traits will always haunt Max and therefore humanity.
@@Yvaelle To me, the reason Max struggles to respond is because, Afterall, it's been one hell of a night. did Vincent change Max? yes, but I think it was for the better. Max had dreams, but he lacked the initiative to do anything about it. he also didnt have much of a spine. these are traits Vincent clearly possesses. naturally, spending time together, Max and Vincent would begin to rub off on each other and learn from the other one. both men are forever changed after their encounter. Max now realizes life is short, like Vincent told him. he's going after what he wants.
@@YvaelleI disagree on it being a negative change for Max. I think Max will take Vincent’s positive characteristics of his point of view on how to just take action but neglect his assassination life. He’ll just take the lesson of DOING IT and facing life fearlessly as Vincent did. Which is why he removed his glasses indicating a change in mentality. Those glasses gave him a passive shy look that was no longer fitted with his action oriented mindset that Vincent gave him. I took it like he was going to go after his dreams with a Vincent mentality which I believe was the purpose of the movie. To show the viewer, through a cool story, to just go after their dreams and JUST DO IT. And it used the metaphor of an assassin doing scary shit(just like chasing your dreams is scary), and doing it.
was it ever stated that vincent was ex special forces or u assumed...cos that would make sense as i was wondering how he got so good at it
this man has Military written all over him. when I watched him kill those 2 guys in the alleyway, I just knew. in the film, they said the cartels hire out Ex Special Forces all the time.@@vza7938
Another incredible performance from Tom Cruise. People claim to not like him but it's very hard to deny his acting prowess. Also every time I've heard of anyone meeting him, they have nothing but nice things to say about him. He's actually one of a kind. I feel like he's been at the top of the game for a very long time.
He's the last movie star
I see people saying that he's a fantastic actor but a despicable person, albeit one who desperately wants to be seen as good.
I don’t like him as a person, and especially not the way he treated his wife and the whole freaking Scientology shit
but as an actor Tom cruise is the top of the class in how he pushes the boundaries, risks his own life and etc with his stunts, lives life fully and is one of the greats and a fully committed and talented person who gives his all.
I dont dislike him, I just find his movies more interesting than his characters usually, except when he plays chaotic neutral or chaotic evil. Thats the only time where I feel like he's being creative and not just playing a version of himself.
people dont claim not to like him, people know what type of evil thing scientology is and as much as you wanna distance him from scientology, you cant
You can have all your boombastic Mission Impossibles and Top Guns. But in my opinion, this is one of the top three Tom's greatest acting performance.
I concur.
As a spec ops vet myself, this movie was actually enjoyable for me, unlike all the other fluff out there.
I like the fact, that Collateral ends where Heat started. According to Michael Mann a coincidence though.
..and Collateral begins where Heat ends, at the airport. Plus, in both endings, the shootout is won by, as Max forshadows (twice) in the beginning of Collateral, "I got lucky with the lights." In Heat, the runway lights turn on, giving Hanna the advantage, in Collateral, they turn off, giving Max the advantage!
This was one of Cruise's best roles, IMO. Collateral is one of my favorite films, and I hold it up as one of the best character-based dramas ever.
An incredible movie and both performances are stellar, I just don't fully understand the underrated nature of this film. It requires so much more credit. And Tom Cruise should pursue roles with this depth of character.